The top row shows the Frame Events and corresponding Actions for the Scene. These Actions are executed when the Movie reaches the Frame that the Action is located. Frame Actions always have a duration of one Frame, but you can execute more than one Action in a single Frame.
The rows below the Scene row represent the objects in the Scene. The rows are displayed in stacking order, with the object that is in front of all other objects displayed at the top (just below the scene row), and the object that is behind all other objects is displayed at the bottom.
Each object row shows the Effects that are applied to that object. Effects may have a duration of one or more Frames, but only one Effect can be applied to an object at any given Frame.
Seconds are marked in the timeline with black lines. The number or Frames shown between seconds is controlled by your Movies Frame Rate.
Note:
| · | A Scene contains zero Frames until you add an Effect or Action
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| · | If you are editing a Sprite, the 'Timeline' Panel displays the Timeline for the Sprite
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Scene Navigation
You can navigate through your movies Scenes using the Scene Navigation arrows. The arrows appear only when there is more than one Scene in your Movie.
Forward Arrow
Moves to the Scene in your Movie.
Backward Arrow
Moves to the previous Scene in your Movie.
Add Effect / Add Script
You can add a Script to a Scene Frame or add an Effect to an object using these buttons. You can display a Menu of Effects or Scripts by clicking on the 'Add Effect' or 'Add Script' buttons, respectively.
Delete Object / Effect / Action
Deletes the currently selected object, Effect or Script. If no Script or Effect is selected the object will be deleted.
Options
Allows you to modify the timeline display options. The available options are:
| · | Narrow: makes the timeline frame width narrow.
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| · | Standard width: makes the timeline frame width the standard width.
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| · | Wide: makes the timeline frame with wide.
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| · | Short: makes the timeline row height short.
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| · | Standard Height: makes the timeline row height the standard height.
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| · | Tall: makes the timeline row height tall.
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| · | Show Seconds: seconds are marked in the timeline with black lines.
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Minimize/Maximize
This button toggles the Timeline buttons between maximized (text and icon displayed) and minimized (icon-only displayed) states.
Timeline control
This is the most complex control in SWiSH, and is the key to combining and coordinating animations. The basic components of the Timeline control are listed below.
Frame Ruler
The Frame Ruler is located at the top of the Timeline and shows the Frame number. It also has markers for each one-second interval.
Play Head
The Play head also appears on the Frame Ruler when in Preview Frame mode.
Object Labels
Object Labels are used for selecting objects or the Scene or Sprite itself. When Show Formatting is turned on, the label shows the actual text color and font.
'Up' Button
An 'Up' button will appear above the object list when you are editing the Timeline for a Sprite. It selects the Sprite or Scene the next level up in the stacking order.
Scene/Sprite Row
The Scene or Sprite row is always the top row in the Timeline, although it may not be visible if you have scrolled down the Timeline control. This is where you can add or edit Frame Events. The corresponding Frame Action is automatically executed when the Movie reaches the Frame it is placed in.
Object Rows
Objects rows appear are under the Scene Row. They appear in stacking order, the same as in the Outline Panel. That is, objects at the top of the list will obscure objects at the bottom of the list in the Layout Panel. This is where Effects can be added, moved or edited.
Current Frame
The current Frame is highlighted. In Preview Frame mode, the red Play head also indicates the current Frame.
Using Frame Actions:
Adding Frame Actions
You can add Frame Actions by either clicking on the 'Add Action' button (while the Scene/Sprite row is selected) or by right-clicking on an empty Frame in the Scene/Sprite row. Any of the available Actions can be placed as a Frame Action. After you have added the Action, SWiSH displays a small icon in the Frame indicating the type of Action. When you move the mouse over the Action Frame, a ScreenTip indicates which Actions are executed at this Frame.
Note: A Frame Action is automatically executed when the Movie reaches the Frame in which it is placed
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You can move Frame Actions by clicking and dragging the Frame to a new position. You can select multiple Actions and drag them together.
Editing Frame Actions
You can edit Frame Actions by clicking on the Frame. The Actions Panel will show the selected Action. If the 'Actions' Panel was not visible, then double-clicking on an Action Frame, or right-clicking and choosing Properties from the context Menu, will display the 'Actions' Panel.
Copying and Pasting Scripts
You can copy Scripts by right-clicking on a Script and choosing Copy from the context Menu or by pressing the Ctrl+C key. Similarly you can paste a copied Scripts by right-clicking on an empty Frame in an object row and choosing Paste from the context Menu or by using selecting a Frame and pressing the Ctrl+V key.
Deleting Frame Actions
You can delete Frame Actions by selecting the desired Action and then clicking the 'Delete Script' button, or by right-clicking on the Action and selecting Delete from the context Menu.
Using Object Effects:
Adding Effects
You can add Effects either by clicking on the 'Add Effect' button (while an object row is selected) or by right-clicking on an empty frame in an object row. You can select an Effect to add from the Menu. After you have added the Effect, SWiSH displays a rectangle with the Effect title and duration in the Timeline and also displays the Effect Properties dialog box. When you move the mouse over the Action Frame, a ScreenTip will show you the name of the Effect if it is partially obscured.
Moving Effects
You can move Effects by clicking and dragging the Effect to a new position on the Timeline. You can select multiple Effects in a single object row and drag them together.
Resizing Effects
Most Effects can be lengthened and shortened by dragging the ends of the Effect in the Timeline.
Note: Some Effects (such as Place and Hide) always only a single Frame in length. Others, like Typewriter, have their length determined by the Effect settings and the object to which they are applied. In these cases, the Effect cannot be resized directly on the Timeline.
Editing Effect Properties
You can edit the settings for an Effect by double-clicking on the Effect in the Timeline or right-clicking on the Effect and selecting 'Properties' from the context Menu. You can also edit the setting from the Effect Properties dialog box. The pages on the Effect Properties dialog box is different for each type of Effect.
Deleting Effects
You can delete Effects either by selecting them and then pressing the 'Delete Effect' button, or by right-clicking on an Effect and choosing Delete from the context Menu.
Copying and Pasting Effects
You can copy Effects by right-clicking on an Effect and choosing Copy from the context Menu or by pressing the Ctrl+C key. Similarly you can paste a copied Effect by right-clicking on an empty Frame in an object row and choosing Paste from the context Menu or by using selecting a Frame and pressing the Ctrl+V key.
Previewing Effects
You can preview Effects by right-clicking on the Effect and selecting Play Effect from the context Menu, or by using the Control Menu or Toolbar, or by clicking on the Play Effect button on the top of the Effect Properties dialog box. You can stop the preview by selecting the Stop option on the Control menu or Toolbar.
Inserting, Deleting and Playing Frames
Right-clicking a Frame in the Timeline gives you the option of inserting, deleting or playing frames. To insert, delete or play multiple frames right-click and drag over a number of frames in the Timeline. If you right-click on an individual object Frames are only inserted or deleted from that object. The available options are:
| · | Insert Frame(s): Inserts the selected number of frames at the current frame.
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| · | Delete Frame(s): Deletes the selected frames.
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| · | Insert Second(s): Inserts one second worth of frames (the same number of frames set as the framerate on the Movie panel)
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| · | Delete Second(s): Deletes one second worth of frames (the same number of frames set as the framerate on the Movie panel).
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| · | Play Frame(s): Plays the selected frames.
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Inserting Keyframes
This option allows you to split a Move effect into two (split at the frame the keyframe is added). If Insert Keyframe is used before any other effects, it will create a Move effect from Frame 1 up to the selected frame. If it is used after another effect, it will create a Move effect from the first frame after the last effect up to the selected frame.
Note: There are limitations and/or unexpected behavior if the move effect being split has a curved path or has easing. In those cases, the result will not be the same as the original Move effect. You can also select multiple objects and one frame to insert keyframes on all objects at once.